IITs are considering to conduct JEE Advanced in online mode. In a recently held meet, Joint Admission Board (JAB) agreed to change the mode of examination from pen and paper to computer based. The report has been confirmed by the director of IIT Madras, Bhaskar Ramamurthi, who is also a director of JAB. He said, “We have taken a decision that the JEE (Advanced) exam will be conducted online from 2018 onwards. There are many advantages in conducting the exam online.”

At present, the top 2.2 lakh qualifiers of JEE Main appear for Advanced paper in offline mode. It is expected that through this decision, the logistics and the evaluation of the papers will become easier for Joint Admission Board. As far as the student’s convenience is considered, the changing of the exam mode should not cause much trouble because they are already familiar with the online mode, in which JEE Main is held. However, one cannot deny the fact that even until now the Main paper is held in offline mode as well.

The online examination will include the transparency in the system and fair judgment for the students appearing in JEE Advanced. “The move will ensure greater transparency and avoid instances of paper leak too.”, said a senior official of MHRD. The mistakes/errors/ misspells done by the students while filling the OMR sheet for the examination shall now be eliminated by the introduction of the online system in JEE Advanced 2018.

Numerous cases of candidates facing trouble with OMR are reported each year. At times, the candidates mark the incorrect circle for the answer and it leads to deduction of marks. The OMR sheet is an easy material to manipulate as well. The online system shall also prevent the problem of leak of papers and will reduce the paper wastage done in the printing of lakhs of question papers and answer sheets. It will also neutralize the issue of misprinting of the question papers and the OMR sheet.

Despite it all, one cannot ignore the fact that there will be a section of students which will trouble by this decision. Majority of candidates opt for pen and paper mode in JEE Main as well, even now. As per the reports, every year, more than 13 lakh students take the Main test and only less than 10% of them opt for the online exam. There can be numerous factors leading this choice. A candidate might opt for the offline mode because they do not have access to the computer and the internet or simply because they have always taken an exam on the paper.

However, these candidates can talk to their teachers and coach for advice on how to improve the computer skills. To overcome the difficulty with the online system, the board will also provide the online mock test on the official website. That will be a three-day training that will allow the students to operate and practice the mock test through the online system.

The students are advised to prepare accordingly for the online test of the engineering examination. Candidates have to prepare, keeping in mind the factors for the online examination. Take as many mock tests as possible and get familiar with the basics of computer.

JEE Advanced 2018 will be held in the month of May 2018. Only those candidates will be eligible to apply for the exam, who will qualify JEE Main. The JEE Mains is an entrance examination for UG engineering in NITs and GFTIs, whereas, through JEE Advanced the admission is granted in IITs.

How feasible do you think the decision is? In this fast paced technological age, is the step to go online necessary to fit the education system, or should a paper of this critical importance be left alone? Also, how would you like to appear for JEE Advanced 2018? Let us know your views on the matter, leave a comment below.